What Are Mike's Favourite Quotes?

Happiness

“Delight in being easy to please. Why make it hard to be happy?”Michael Catton

“To experience the joy of giving, one has to give unconditionally.”Michael Catton

﻿“Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life." Burton Hills

“People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be." Abraham Lincoln

“The road to happiness lies in two simple principles; find what interests you and that you can do well, and put your whole soul into it - every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have.” John D. Rockefeller

“Happiness comes only when we push our brains and hearts to the farthest reaches of which we are capable." Leo Rosten

“The key to happiness is having dreams, the key to success is making dreams come true.”

“Happiness depends upon one’s self.”

“Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action." Benjamin Disraeli

“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.”

Leadership

“Exceptional leaders focus on and utilise their strengths whilst identifying and mitigating their weaknesses.”Michael Catton

“An inspired leader is inspiring only because of how they make other people feel.”Michael Catton

“Lead by example. Only then will others have a desire to follow.”Michael Catton

“Great leaders recognise and develop the strengths in others.”Michael Catton

“Good leaders make people feel that they're at the very heart of things, not at the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organisation. When that happens people feel centered and that gives their work meaning." Warren Bennis

“One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency."Arnold Glasgow

“Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.” Publilius Syrus

“You can’t hold someone accountable for results if you supervise their methods.”Stephen Covey

“In the business world the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield.” Warren Buffett

“I now realize there are millions of self-made millionaires who started with nothing. They dug inside themselves to find the answers and they succeeded. There is nothing anyone else can do that I can't do." Dean Graziosi

“Capital isn’t scarce, vision is.”Sam Walton

“A friendship founded on business is better than a business founded on friendship.”John D. Rockefeller

“The only real training for leadership is leadership.”Abraham Lincoln

“Success is relative, where you were, to where you are now.”

Imagination

“A mind once stretched by new idea, never regains its original dimensions.”

Teamwork

“A great team is like the crew of a ship. It is most successful when everyone knows where they are going and their role in getting there.”Michael Catton

“A great team can achieve so much more than a bunch of individuals working together.”Michael Catton

﻿“Teamwork divides the task and doubles success.”

“Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together.”

“Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.”

“Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is a success.”

“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organisational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

Learning

“Every day is an opportunity to learn something new.”Michael Catton

“Mistakes are an opportunity to learn something new for the future. Welcome them.”Michael Catton

﻿“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

“Education is the best provision for the journey to old age.”

“Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”Malcom Forbes

“Learning by experience often is painful, and the more it hurts, the more you learn.” Ralph Banks

“Learning takes place very quickly at the edge of chaos. When the roof is about to fall in everything is possible; old prejudices, rivalries and objections are forgotten and people embrace new ideas and work together as never before.”

“A clever man learns from his mistakes, a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.”

"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing." John Powell

“Learning is a journey not a destination.”

“Theory without practice is empty; practice without theory is blind.”

“The person who does the work does the learning.”

“Learning is like opening a door, not filling a container.”

“Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll understand.”

“The most important single factor influencing learning is what the learner already knows.”

“The facilitator doesn’t need to steer the ship, just be the lighthouse.”

“When students cannot learn the way we teach, we have to teach the way they learn.”

Work Ethos

“People who have attained things worth having in this world have worked whilst others have idled, have persevered when others gave up in despair, and have practised early in life the valuable habits of self-denial, industry and singleness of purpose. As a result, they enjoy in later life the success so often erroneously attributed to good luck.”

“Do enough of the right things often enough and you will succeed.”

“If you want something in a hurry or done well, give it to a busy man.”

“I will do today what others will not, so that I can do tomorrow what others can not.”

“The main thing, is to keep the main thing, the main thing.”

“We don’t have much money to do this so we are going to have to think.” Earnest Rutherford

Attitude

“We may not be able to choose the events that happen in our lives, but we can choose how we respond to them.”Michael Catton

“It’s not what’s in front of us that matters the most, but how we look at it.”Michael Catton

“Be grateful for all things in your life, good or bad. They all play a role in shaping who you are.”Michael Catton

“You only live once. You might as well do it your way instead of someone else’s.”Michael Catton

“It’s in our moments of challenge that our true character shines.”Michael Catton

“Growth comes through adversity. So rather than ducking it, face it head on.”Michael Catton

“You've got to take the initiative and play your game. In a decisive set, confidence is the difference.” Chris Evert

"If you don't have confidence, you'll always find a way not to win."Carl Lewis

"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." Joshua J. Marine

“Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” Lou Holtz

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." Robert Francis Kennedy

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.”

“Attitudes are contagious is yours worth catching?”

“Be enthusiastic. Nothing of consequence was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

“If it is to be, it is up to me.”

“Our feelings are based on our actions. Our actions are determined by our thoughts. Our thoughts are developed by our attitude.”

“If its worth doing then its worth doing right. Do what ever it takes.”

“Last 10% of effort yields 90% of results.”

“Those saying it can’t be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.”

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

“Backbone. Not available in stores.”

“The pleasure you get from your life is equal to the attitude you put into it.”

“Avoiding the phrase “I don’t have time...”, will soon help you to realize that you do have the time needed for just about anything you choose to accomplish in life.” Bo Bennett, "Year to Success"

Determination

“Determination is an essential ingredient in any recipe for success.”Michael Catton

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful individuals with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

"Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit." Napoleon Hill

"Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown." H. Ross Perot

“Defeat is only a state of mind.”

“Never, never, never, never give up.”

“Winners never quit, and quitters never win.”

“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink … you can however make it thirsty!”

“Perseverance is failing 9 times and succeeding the 10th.” J. Andrews

“Tough times never last but tough people do.”

Belief

"Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right." Henry Ford

﻿"Who has confidence in himself will gain the confidence of others." Leib Lazarow

“Life’s battles don’t always go to the strongest, fastest man, but sooner or later the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.”

“Nobody has the right to tell me what I can or cannot achieve.”

“Where there’s a will there’s a way. Think that it’s possible and it is.”

“Capacity is a state of mind. There is always room for more.”

“Rehearse the future as you want it to be. Visualise it, see it in your mind’s eye.”

“Winners create their own opportunities.”

Action

“Quit waiting for the perfect moment or set of circumstances. Start now on your path to success.”Michael Catton

“We are all capable of greatness. It’s just a matter of deciding what we want to be great at then taking the action necessary to get there.”Michael Catton

“We will be remembered for our deeds and actions, and therefore to be remembered for the right things, we have to do the right things.”Michael Catton

“Until one is committed there is always hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans. The moment one commits oneself, then providence moves too. Multitudes of things occur to help that which otherwise could never occur. A stream of events issues from a decision, raising to ones favour all manner of unforeseen accidents, meetings and material assistance which no one could have dreamed would come their way.”

“Action cures fear, be decisive, act immediately.”

“Do not wait to strike until the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.” William B. Sprague

“You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind.” Unknown

“What you have to do and the way you have to do it is incredibly simple. Whether you are willing to do it, that's another matter.”Peter F. Drucker

“It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows great enthusiasms, great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt

“A little push in the right direction can make a big difference.”

“To begin, begin.”Peter Nivio Zarlenga

“A good beginning makes a good end.”English Proverb

“Nothing will work unless you do.”John Wooden

“Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.”George Herman "Babe" Ruth

“Begin, to begin is half the work, let half still remain; again begin this, and thou wilt have finished.”Decimus Magnus Ausonius

“Some people dream of worthy of competence, while others stay awake and do them.”

"Practice is the best of all instructors." Publilius Syrus

Courage

“Courage is not the absence of fear; it is acting in the face of fear.”Michael Catton

“When the challenge is great and the stakes are high, perhaps you’re a little scared. That’s the time to trust yourself to get the job done.”Michael Catton

Fitness Motivation

"The pain of discipline is far less than the pain of regret"Sarah Bombell, synchronized swimmer

"The truth is that running hurts. No one gets faster without meeting their personal pain barrier straight on. No amount of junk miles, fun runs or affirmations are going to get you over the hill at the five km mark in a 10 km race. However, what will pull you through is solid prep with hard hill runs and interval work."Manciata's explanation of the Truth about Running

“Money is the most envied, but the least enjoyed. Health is the most enjoyed, but the least envied.” Charles Caleb Colton

“The body of man is a machine which winds its own springs.”J. O. De La Mettrie

“Fitness, if it came in a bottle, everybody would have a great body.”Cher

“Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness.”Earl of Derby

“True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are united.”Alexander von Humboldt

“A man's health can be judged by which he takes two at a time, pills or stairs.” Joan Welsh

“No rest is worth anything except the rest that is earned.”Jean Paul

“Our health always seems much more valuable after we lose it.”Unknown

“Rest is a good thing, but boredom is its brother.”Voltaire

“Rest is the sweet sauce of labor.”Plutarch

“Sometimes the most urgent and vital thing you can possibly do is to take a complete rest.”Ashleigh Brilliant

“Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity. The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, thewhole world is clouded.”Goethe

"Spirit has fifty times the strength and staying power of brawn and muscle."Unknown

"Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential."Liane Cardes

"If you train hard, you'll not only be hard, you'll be hard to beat."Herschel Walker

"Train, don't strain."Arthur Lydiard

"Number one is just to gain a passion for running. To love the morning, to love the trail, to love the pace on the track. And if some kid gets really good at it, that's cool too."Pat Tyson

"Just remember this: No one ever won the olive wreath with an impressive training diary."Marty Liquori

"The more I talk to athletes, the more convinced I become that the method of training is relatively unimportant. There are many ways to the top, and the training method you choose is just the one that suits you best. No, the important thing is the attitude of the athlete, the desire to get to the top."Herb Elliott

"The five S's of sports training are: stamina, speed, strength, skill, and spirit; but the greatest of these is spirit."Ken Doherty

Progress

"The power to question is the basis of all human progress." Indira Gandhi

"Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be." Kahlil Gibran, "A Handful of Sand on the Shore"

"All progress occurs because people dare to be different." Harry Millner

Other

“Be grateful for the past, live in the present and create the future.”Michael Catton

“Mind and body are one system. Feed one to feed the other.”Michael Catton

“We are always influencing others. The only question is whether you are getting the results you desire.”Michael Catton

“To know thyself, be thyself.”Michael Catton

“Wealth and richness in life is not about money. A measure of true wealth takes into account our state of mind, friendships, health, etc. When we take a broader view, money becomes less important.”Michael Catton ﻿

“Reasons and excuses are no match for results. Truly being at cause means not more excuses EVER!”Michael Catton

﻿“Inspiration cannot be willed, though it can be wooed.”Anthony Storr

“Bad excuses are worse than none.”Thomas Fuller

“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going."Beverly Sills

"It is only through work and strife that either nation or individual moves on to greatness. The great man is always the man of mighty effort, and usually the man whom grinding need has trained to mighty effort."Theodore Roosevelt, in a speech about Grant, delivered at Galena, Illinois, April 27, 1900

"The turning point in the process of growing up is when you discover the core of strength within you that survives all hurt."Max Lerner

"Restlessness is discontent, and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man, and I will show you a failure."Thomas Alva Edison

“Wealth is attracted by the person you become.”

“The future belongs to those who prepare for it.”

“Success is not how you handle the top, but how you handle the bottom.”

“He who knows how, works for he who knows why.”

“Its not what you know, its who you know, or where to look.”

“You win if you refuse to fight with petty people. Think big, be big, get above triviality.”

“It can always be done better, find the way.”

“Put service first and the money will take care of itself.”

“Whoever is under a man’s power is also under his protection.”

“Don’t validate a problem, solve it.”

“Win the war, not necessarily the battle.”

“Have a conscience, do what is right.”

“Ask advice.”

“Man is product of his thought; what he thinks, he becomes.”Mahatma Gandhi

“Man, alone, has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; man, alone, can dream and make his dreams come true." Napoleon Hill

"The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it. Anything can be." Shel Silverstein

“There are two primary choices in life; to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them."Denis Waitley

"Everyone's life is under someone's control - it might as well be under your own so that you can direct your destiny."Harry Tucker

"And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."Abraham Lincoln

"If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded." Maya Angelou

"Find a job you like and you add five days to every week." H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

“Each time you are honest and conduct yourself with honesty, a success force will drive you toward greater success. Each time you lie, even with a little white lie, there are strong forces pushing you toward failure." Joseph Sugarman

"Recognition is the greatest motivator." Gerard C. Eakedale

“Talent does what it can; genius does what it must." Edward George Bulwer-Lytton

“Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have." Margaret Mead

"It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself." Eleanor Roosevelt

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Reinhold Niebuhr

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”Ralph Waldo Emerson